Washington Wizards feeling confident about their draft prospects: NBA Draft Update
With the 2011 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft just hours away, the scouting planning and activities in each franchise of the league have reached a pinnacle. Washington Wizards are no different.
The Wizards have 6th overall pick in the Draft and although many offers have been coming regarding a possible swap, Ernie Grunfeld, the president of the Wizards basketball operation, has hinted that he will stick with
the young gun and is viewing it as the next step towards rebuilding process that the Wizards are going through. On Monday evening Grunfeld said, “At this time, yes. There are conversations at this time of year, as always. In all likelihood, that’s the pick
we’re going to have. But you never know.”
The Wizards don’t have the No. 1 pick in this season, but they do hold three picks in the first 34 draft. Because of this very reason, the Wizards brought in nearly 60 prospects to their workout session and also requested some
of them to have another go with them.
Wizards coach Flip Saunders said after conducting a workout on Monday morning, “We have a handle on the people that are going to be in the mix at every spot. We’re very comfortable with the people that are there. The way this draft
is, it doesn’t have the John Wall, but it does have some depth and when it plays out, who’s taken at 34, who’s taken at 18 and then at six, those guys will be comparable or above what’s been in the past. So I think from that standpoint, we feel good that our
scouting people have done a great job.”
The Wizards have done their home work for the Thursday’s draft and Grunfeld is looking to pick a big man with their No. 6. However, at the same time, if the top draft teams leave a bright point guard in the pool, the Wizards will
be willing to pick him. The second part of their preparation depends on who they will pick at No. 6 and in accordance to it they will go for the remaining picks. For instance if they got their desired big man at six, then there will be a high probability that
the Wizards will go for a swing man at 18 and then pick up a backup guard for John Wall at 34, or the fourth pick of the second round.
Grunfeld however is satisfied with Wizards’ current draft and even though this is his last year with the franchise, he is still following the lines they had set earlier and is not looking for a player that will give them an immediate
boost. The Wizards have conceived their draft plan by bearing the hard salary cap in their minds, so if its implementation takes place franchise can remain flexible with the amount they want to spend.
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